Horns of a Dilemma: Duke vs. MSU
Here is a not impossible hypothetical: We have just punched our ticket to the Final Four and now have to sit and watch Duke play MSU. Who do we root for, other than for a meteor to strike the arena?
Alternate scenario: We don't make it to the Final Four. Who do we root for between Duke and MSU?
I think there might be a difference as to who we would root for it we have to play the winner vs. us not being in.
Lets wait to to see if MSU can get past the 2nd round. They've had better teams and done less.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:19 AM ^
I heard someone this week say "In Michigan, the calendars read January, February, March" and I wondered how this time traveler from 2003 got into 2019
March 21st, 2019 at 10:46 AM ^
does your calendar not read January February March?
March 21st, 2019 at 11:10 AM ^
Lol. Whoops. That was supposed to be “January, February, Izzo”
March 21st, 2019 at 11:16 AM ^
lol I assumed that's what you meant but could not resist
March 21st, 2019 at 11:21 AM ^
Outdated calendar. All recent calendars should read: "January, February, Beilein."
Shouldn't the joke be something about Izzo only having 20 days in it???
Somebody better and funnier than me, write this appropriately.
March 21st, 2019 at 12:41 PM ^
Well, they are right. March is when that train usually derails. April is the month that really matters. Silly dumb sparties.
Stupid Smarch weather.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:51 AM ^
I thought the calendar ended in 2012.
/Mayan’d
Middle Tennessee State!
Kansas!
I'd 100% rather play Duke than MSU a 4th time. Beating MSU would feel good, losing to MSU a 4th time would make me stop watching basketball.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:04 AM ^
I sort of agree. Losing to MSU a 4th time would be bad.
Watching Zion drop 30pts and 18 rebounds would only sting temporarily..because he’s going to do that to a lot of teams in this tournament.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:03 AM ^
The way Michigan loses to MSU would be what pushes me over the edge.
If, for the 4th game in a row, Michigan gets a lead and then loses it late in the second half while going 7 minutes without a basket and continually hedging the bejesus out of the P&R while never running an offensive set, then I'd probably throw something at my TV.
March 21st, 2019 at 12:07 PM ^
Yeah, I was of course pulling for the championship last year, but my takeaway was something like
"That was a bummer, but what are you gonna do when DiVincenzo and a bunch of other NBA players go all Monstar on you?"
Zion is going to do Zion things. Also (and more importantly), I hate MSU and I want them to lose their next 1,000 games regardless of who they're playing.
March 21st, 2019 at 12:13 PM ^
Villanova was incredible last year. Had to get upset when a team that is clearly superior is giving you the business.
MSU has stung, because they aren't any better than us.
"We knew who they were, and we let them off the hook"
March 21st, 2019 at 10:39 AM ^
this, a million times.
E[win over MSU, making us 1-3 against them] << E[fourth loss to MSU in one season]
March 21st, 2019 at 10:57 AM ^
Counterpoint: Beating them in the Final Four would trump the other three losses. They won some battles, but we would've won the war.
We still have four games to win to get to the Final Four, so let's worry about that first.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:45 AM ^
Well obviously beating them is preferable to losing. But if we get the opportunity to play them in the Final Four, beating them would completely erase the sting of the three losses, because that would be the one that mattered most. Remember Illinois in '89?
Was gonna post the same. The look, 30 years later, on Steve Bardo's face - every time he has to mention the 1989 Michigan national champion team while on camera for BTN - is priceless. I would love for UM to give MSU that pain for the next 30 years.
Man IDK but I do know that Zion is terrifyingly good.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:53 AM ^
Who?
/s
Duke to both
March 21st, 2019 at 11:00 AM ^
Yup, let's go Duke!
Oh wait, we got a week yet before that matchup happens...
I don't root for either, and most likely, I won't watch that game in either scenario.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:53 AM ^
While I understand the sentiment, and won't set aside time just to watch, you'll be missing a good basketball match up. I won't stop what I'm doing to watch it (like I most definitely will for all Michigan games), but I'll watch if nothing else is going on around the house...
March 21st, 2019 at 11:21 AM ^
I guess I'm a Michigan basketball fan more than a basketball fan. I love watching Duke lose a 3-14 game or something, but I don't love watching Duke be successful. And I hate MSU. Why watch them when I don't have to?
Also, it's nice to share the TV sometimes. When my teams aren't playing I like to give my girlfriend a little break from sports.
Double post, blegh.
Meteor strike. If no, give Sparty the nod, and then kick their ass. Fourth time's the charm, right?
Zion is the equivalent of a meteor strike, don't wanna play that guy.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:05 AM ^
I can see the debate on the first question. I don't really understand the debate on the second.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:06 AM ^
I got State over Duke. Duke has more talent but MSU can beat you in a lot of different ways, is experienced and cohesive, and physically they have the bodies to throw at Williamson assuming Ward is a full go. (I understand he is not that good, but he is huge and from a physicality standpoint he and Tillman is about as good as you can hope for against Williamson). I also think that Izzo is one of the few coaches that will get the game called fairly evenly against K. I came away from our games with State hating them more then ever, but also begrudging believing that they are really good.
I don't think any of the teams that I see MSU playing before Duke are particularly threatening, either. It my honest belief, we are looking at a four-match (This Time We Mean It!) against MSU in a little under three weeks.
I do think there is the off chance that MSU could be "looking ahead" a little bit today though and that today could be more tricky than expected. I don't think they will lose but I think there may come a point where they have to turn it on today. Bradley has not been very good this year but they have size, they have a point guard who is Winston-light, and they are a team who has gotten better as the year has gone on, kind of "peaking." Once again, I don't think they are a threat to beat MSU but my guess is that the mood around State has been somewhat celebratory over the last week. That can be a tricky mindset heading into the tournament for early games.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:15 AM ^
1989, I think, Illinois swept us in the season series, and we beat them in the NCAA semifinals. Repeat!
March 21st, 2019 at 10:32 AM ^
Izzo is 1-11 against Coach K.
Duke will win.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:41 AM ^
We hear this every year about State and then they crap the bed against MTSU or 14 loss Syracuse
March 21st, 2019 at 10:47 AM ^
I didn't think either of those teams had a run in them. Last year I knew they were an early-ish exit.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:02 AM ^
You address Bradley but forget Louisville? Chris Mack is a very good and tourney-proven coach and they've already beaten MSU once while they were full strength. MSU's post Langford and Ward adjustments were good and it won them the B1G tourney, but there is now plenty of tape out on that incarnation and I expect Mack and Louisville to give them a game. Not saying it's gonna happen but it very easily could.
March 21st, 2019 at 11:54 AM ^
Let's see if Louisville even beats Minnesota.
March 21st, 2019 at 12:26 PM ^
Louisville should have beaten Duke, already beat MSU....so they are my pick to shock and come out of their bracket. Not likely, but did/should have beaten the 1 and 2 seeds form their bracket this season...should be interesting.
March 21st, 2019 at 12:56 PM ^
Well they need to shape up then, quickly.
Got any hot stock tips?
March 21st, 2019 at 10:07 AM ^
MSU is higher risk. Beating them would be cool, but losing would be unbearable.
First thing's first, MSU needs to find a way to make it past the first 2 rounds
March 21st, 2019 at 10:11 AM ^
I'm hoping both teams lose this weekend and said hypothetical game never occurs.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:17 AM ^
Not worthy of its own thread but PG Frank Howard is out for Syracuse indefinitely. He is spotty offensively but is nearly irreplaceable in their zone due to his length up top. If you have them as a darkhorse this is relevant.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:33 AM ^
Well shit. Already turned mine in
March 21st, 2019 at 10:35 AM ^
May want to see if you can get it back. If he doesn't play they have 0 shot against Gonzaga and will likely lose tonight without him.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:19 AM ^
I take Duke in both scenarios. In this first scenario because losing to MSU in the Final Four (plus the 4th straight time this year) would really, really suck. I'd die of alcohol poisoning after that.
In the second scenario, it's an easy choice. Plus Zion is the first Duke player who I don't irrationally hate. He's actually very likable and super fun to watch
March 21st, 2019 at 10:20 AM ^
We've been there before. I want both of their runs to end as soon as possible but if one has to have its end and the other has to move on then I would rather have Moo go home.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:20 AM ^
I want MSU to win.
- I hate Duke. And I've had enough of hearing about Zion et al.
- I want to beat MSU in the final game. I want everything to finally click for Michigan, and for them to beat MSU when it matters most. To win a national championship, and to do it by vanquishing your rival? Wouldn't get better than that.
March 21st, 2019 at 10:25 AM ^
It would be a semi-final.
We would still have to get our final revenge on Calipari after that to win it all.